Martin again comes up just short of victory

Mark Martin runs a limited schedule, and as such is not in any way concerned with points racing. Saturday night in Phoenix, he wanted only one thing: a victory.

He came up short when he was called into the pits for fuel with 10 laps remaining.

Martin said all the right things after the race, but it didn't take much perception to see what he meant.

"We had a great race car and thought we could make it on fuel," Martin said. "However, this is a team effort. When I drive the car into the wall, [the crew members] have to stand behind me, just like I am standing behind them right now.

"I thought I saved plenty of fuel - probably saved five laps. We had such a spectacular car at the end of the race I didn't have to run it hard."

Martin was told earlier in the race he was just one lap short on fuel. He finished fifth, his second consecutive top-10 finish.

Decision pays off for Hamlin, No. 11 team

Denny Hamlin was running second when he peeled off with 15 laps remaining for fuel and two tires. He rejoined the field well back in the pack, but he was able to work his way all the way back up to third, the best among the drivers that pitted late for fuel.

"We had a winning car there at the end," Hamlin said. "Great call by [crew chief] Mike [Ford] to choose to come in early and take those tires because we had those guys by the neck there at the end if they didn't make it on fuel."

Unfortunately for Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer made it to the end and finished 1-2.

Small victory for Hornish

The going has not been easy for two-time IndyCar Series champ Sam Hornish Jr. in his move to stock cars. But Phoenix proved to be a small step forward.

Hornish finished 20th, the best of the three Penske Racing cars, and that was the kind of finish he needed.

"We didn't have that great of a car, but we just kind of did what we needed to do today. I know that Kurt [Busch] and Ryan [Newman] both had problems today . . . but even that can make me feel a little bit better right now."

Newman started on the pole but finished 43rd when a front seal on his engine broke, the second time in eight races the problem has occurred. Busch was 23rd, one lap down.

Engine troubles ruin Sadler's day

Emporia native Elliott Sadler was having one of his best runs of the young season but lost it all when his engine blew on Lap 162. He finished 41st.

"It's a shame," Sadler said. "I was riding out front in the top 10 and just trying to make it to the end."

Lug nuts

Jeff Burton retained his Sprint Cup Series points lead with a sixth-place finish. The South Boston native extended his lead to 80 points over second-place Kyle Busch. . . . Greg Biffle fell two spots in the points to 10th - despite finishing ninth at Phoenix. - Jill Erwin